Showing posts with label San Francisco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Francisco. Show all posts
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Letters from Grandpa 22 February 1916
Golconda Hot Springs Hotel
Golconda, Nevada
Miss Allene S Kelley,
Modesto,
California
Tho't you'd appreciate those pictures of me. Honestly I didn't know I did look that way. Hardly see how pictures can lie tho'.
That's a real luxury,--living so close to the City [San Francisco-ed.] that you can go almost whenever you wish without losing a lot of time. Selfishness makes me glad that the Berk'y [Berkeley-ed.] and Oak'd [Oakland-ed.] boys have dates ahead till the 24th of March and causes me to wish they'd continue to have dates ahead--way ahead. Of course I want you to have a dandy time--all the time dear--but the City is no place for a nice respectable girl to be running around loose with college boys (or any others) than Carlin is for a boy.
Train's coming--
I love you dear.
Frank.
Washington's Birthday
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Letters from Grandpa 26 January 1916
Box 162,
Elko, Nevada
Miss Allene S. Kelley,
1020~15th St.,
Modesto
California
Yesterday, Dearest, I didn't write nor did I receive, but the one I wrote Monday P.M. didn't go till yesterday so I'm none behind. Today I got the tardy one and another, and they both "had a tendency" to make the world look brighter in this gloomy old place. Anyhow I noticed a difference, if no one else did and I feel lots better since I consumed their contents, cause it does make me feel a little downhearted and neglected when I go to the postoffice [sic] and they tell me "nothing doing."
You're not going to get much of a letter today dear.~Am "awful" busy and the train will be here before I finish work. Will write what I can while I'm "cooking" some incisors.
I'm very glad to hear you are industrious too, and that you are faithful to your music, even tho' you do "meet up" with a good many obstacles to hinder and to make it disagreeably fascinating;~ such as snow storms, mud theatres, etc. And talking about theatres, I saw Letty in San Francisco~not "Frisco." I should say she is an awkward looking thing on the stage. And where she made that exit on all fours and then peered around the corner at the audience,~~well "could you beat it" dear?
By golly! dearest, those teeth are done to a frazzle and I'll have to leave you or "lose my job." Will answer this last one tonight.
Always with love,
Your,
Frank.
Jan 26~1916
Elko, Nevada
Miss Allene S. Kelley,
1020~15th St.,
Modesto
California
Yesterday, Dearest, I didn't write nor did I receive, but the one I wrote Monday P.M. didn't go till yesterday so I'm none behind. Today I got the tardy one and another, and they both "had a tendency" to make the world look brighter in this gloomy old place. Anyhow I noticed a difference, if no one else did and I feel lots better since I consumed their contents, cause it does make me feel a little downhearted and neglected when I go to the postoffice [sic] and they tell me "nothing doing."
You're not going to get much of a letter today dear.~Am "awful" busy and the train will be here before I finish work. Will write what I can while I'm "cooking" some incisors.
I'm very glad to hear you are industrious too, and that you are faithful to your music, even tho' you do "meet up" with a good many obstacles to hinder and to make it disagreeably fascinating;~ such as snow storms, mud theatres, etc. And talking about theatres, I saw Letty in San Francisco~not "Frisco." I should say she is an awkward looking thing on the stage. And where she made that exit on all fours and then peered around the corner at the audience,~~well "could you beat it" dear?
By golly! dearest, those teeth are done to a frazzle and I'll have to leave you or "lose my job." Will answer this last one tonight.
Always with love,
Your,
Frank.
Jan 26~1916
Monday, December 6, 2010
Letters from Grandpa 19 November 1915
Commercial Hotel
W. M. Doyle, Prop.
Elko, Nevada
Miss Allene S. Kelley
Huntington Hall
South Pasadena, California
In all that long (?) letter I wrote you last night Dear--and with all the time I put in on it--I neglected to thank you for the picture taken at Mojave. You never fail to express your appreciation and thanks when I give you things, girlie, and really just an acknowledgement of the receipt would be sufficient, because I know you appreciate them. Of course I like to have you thank me and all that, but should you fail to do so I would consider it just a simple forgivable oversight,--and I expect the same forgiveness from you dear. That's not unreasonable, is it?
This morning I was agreeably welcomed at the post office by your letter.
Glad you enjoyed the candy and that Mrs. Coolidge likes the look of my back. You might tell her that I'm really very pleasant looking and am not at all ashamed of my face.--That is if you can tell it with a sincere look. Of course I wouldn't have her know we were joshing.
So you had your picture taken!! And am I to have one? I know that a thing worth having is worth asking for so I'm asking you, dear.
Will try and write to Mrs. Maze today. Received one letter from her but the one she addressed to Wells, for some reason or other, has failed to reach me. I have written the postmaster of that place regarding it and I may get it tomorrow. I'm hoping anyhow.
I would like to be in San Francisco when the folks arrive but then I'd not be satisfied even then. 'Twould be like a dinner without dessert;--seeing them without you.
In a few days you'll be in San Diego. I hope you have the dandiest time ever dear.
Sincerely yours
Frank
Friday, November 19th, 1915
W. M. Doyle, Prop.
Elko, Nevada
Miss Allene S. Kelley
Huntington Hall
South Pasadena, California
In all that long (?) letter I wrote you last night Dear--and with all the time I put in on it--I neglected to thank you for the picture taken at Mojave. You never fail to express your appreciation and thanks when I give you things, girlie, and really just an acknowledgement of the receipt would be sufficient, because I know you appreciate them. Of course I like to have you thank me and all that, but should you fail to do so I would consider it just a simple forgivable oversight,--and I expect the same forgiveness from you dear. That's not unreasonable, is it?
This morning I was agreeably welcomed at the post office by your letter.
Glad you enjoyed the candy and that Mrs. Coolidge likes the look of my back. You might tell her that I'm really very pleasant looking and am not at all ashamed of my face.--That is if you can tell it with a sincere look. Of course I wouldn't have her know we were joshing.
So you had your picture taken!! And am I to have one? I know that a thing worth having is worth asking for so I'm asking you, dear.
Will try and write to Mrs. Maze today. Received one letter from her but the one she addressed to Wells, for some reason or other, has failed to reach me. I have written the postmaster of that place regarding it and I may get it tomorrow. I'm hoping anyhow.
I would like to be in San Francisco when the folks arrive but then I'd not be satisfied even then. 'Twould be like a dinner without dessert;--seeing them without you.
In a few days you'll be in San Diego. I hope you have the dandiest time ever dear.
Sincerely yours
Frank
Friday, November 19th, 1915
Monday, October 18, 2010
Letter from my Mother, 4 Dec. 2002
Mom passed away a few years ago, after years of health issues. I saved this letter, which has many memories of her life.
Dearest L--,
Once I remember you told me that because my handwriting slanted upward that it denoted optimism. The reason I remembered this is that your grandfather, Frank Huntington Russell's handwriting always did this. Also, until my signature changed, it was exactly like his even to the shape of the letters. Even on his dental laboratory door, somehow, the sign painter was able to write his name exactly like he did & also right under this he (my father) had him write "Master Craftsman." He made dentures with one or two gold crowns which made them look natural.
In Nevada where he lived for, perhaps, many years he learned to be a dentist from Dr. Whitesides, but when he moved to California after Grams [Allene Kelley Russell] said to him after living there for about two years, "I'm going back to California! You can come if you want to, but I'm going back." Of course he loved her so much he came, but he couldn't practice dentistry here, so he became a dental technician.
L--, I remember when you & [your husband] drove down from Idaho for the expressed purpose of getting Grams' cedar chest & while you were showing him the different items in it, you said, "We're a sentimental family." I distinctly remember that she had kept in it a shoe box where she had saved all the letters tied with a blue satin ribbon he had written her while she was staying in a finishing school in Pasadena where Auntie & Unkie [Mr. & Mrs. W. C. Maze] took her. You must have that, of course. Have you ever had enough spare time to read any of them?
You asked me to tell you their love story. It all began when they were on their way to Pasadena on the train. Grampa was going to San Francisco to collect some money he had loaned a man. It just so happened that Grampa & Unkie were in the club car at the same time & must have been sitting at the same table where they introduced themselves &, in the course of the conversation Unkie must have told Grampa about his wife & niece.
When the train stopped at some place, they all got out at a landing, so Unkie introduced Mr. Russell to his wife, Mrs. Maze & his niece, Miss Kelley. She had the most beautiful auburn hair & I like to think that she wore it piled on her head in the same fashion of a Gibson girl whose pictures were so popular in those days. Well, dear, here's what you asked me for, because it was love at first sight.
Even though she more than likely received a letter from him every day, she told me she was so homesick she even had the nuns crying.
She told me a funny thing that happened after they were married. She told him to break his toast, but evidently he didn't remember to do it, so she got angry & grabbed his piece & said, as she broke it in pieces, "If you won't break it, I'll break it for you!"
To show you he also had a temper, there was a woman he had made dentures for who kept coming back complaining they still didn't fit. The last time he said, "Here, give them to me & I'll fix them," so when she did, he took them & threw them on the floor where they broke in pieces. He more than likely told Grams, because after he gave her a string of cultured pearls that didn't hang just right, when she showed this to him, he said, "Give them to me," but she said, "Oh, no you don't!"
Honey, I wish I could describe her wedding dress, but I'll do my best. It was made of a gray net with a pleated bodice, & had silver ribbons from the waist to the hem that were spaced evenly around a slightly full modified hoop skirt. She kept it for years, & when I was old enough she let me dress up in it until the net started to tear, so she put it in the garbage can. But that's how she felt about me. I can remember using some of the sterling silver spoons she let me use to dig in the back yard, so a few of them got lost.
I used to help her polish the silverware before Thanksgiving & Christmas when our relatives came for the holiday dinners. Those were the only times she would use the gold-banded dishes, & she always washed them herself, so, as far as I know, none of them got chipped. [Your sister] has the set & told me that she uses part of them occassionally [sic]. She also has her engagement cups.
At Christmas time she & I cracked walnuts & then I'd sell bags of them for money to buy gifts with. Then I'd go to the Woolworth's where I'd buy a 10 [cent] gift for all of them.
I spent many happy times with her--shelling peas & stringing & breaking into smaller pieces string beans.
L--, I remember that you were a Job's Daughter for a while. Will you please write & tell me what you can remember about it?
I joined when I was 13 & remained one until I reached 18, which was the oldest you could be. Your Aunt Jean was elected Honored Queen, & your Aunt Helene served as Senior Princess. I was the Musician for most of the time, but also was Recorder for one term.
Well, dear, I've used all my writing paper for now. Still waiting to get a letter from you.
Love you, love you, love you--
Mom
Dearest L--,
Once I remember you told me that because my handwriting slanted upward that it denoted optimism. The reason I remembered this is that your grandfather, Frank Huntington Russell's handwriting always did this. Also, until my signature changed, it was exactly like his even to the shape of the letters. Even on his dental laboratory door, somehow, the sign painter was able to write his name exactly like he did & also right under this he (my father) had him write "Master Craftsman." He made dentures with one or two gold crowns which made them look natural.
In Nevada where he lived for, perhaps, many years he learned to be a dentist from Dr. Whitesides, but when he moved to California after Grams [Allene Kelley Russell] said to him after living there for about two years, "I'm going back to California! You can come if you want to, but I'm going back." Of course he loved her so much he came, but he couldn't practice dentistry here, so he became a dental technician.
L--, I remember when you & [your husband] drove down from Idaho for the expressed purpose of getting Grams' cedar chest & while you were showing him the different items in it, you said, "We're a sentimental family." I distinctly remember that she had kept in it a shoe box where she had saved all the letters tied with a blue satin ribbon he had written her while she was staying in a finishing school in Pasadena where Auntie & Unkie [Mr. & Mrs. W. C. Maze] took her. You must have that, of course. Have you ever had enough spare time to read any of them?
You asked me to tell you their love story. It all began when they were on their way to Pasadena on the train. Grampa was going to San Francisco to collect some money he had loaned a man. It just so happened that Grampa & Unkie were in the club car at the same time & must have been sitting at the same table where they introduced themselves &, in the course of the conversation Unkie must have told Grampa about his wife & niece.
When the train stopped at some place, they all got out at a landing, so Unkie introduced Mr. Russell to his wife, Mrs. Maze & his niece, Miss Kelley. She had the most beautiful auburn hair & I like to think that she wore it piled on her head in the same fashion of a Gibson girl whose pictures were so popular in those days. Well, dear, here's what you asked me for, because it was love at first sight.
Even though she more than likely received a letter from him every day, she told me she was so homesick she even had the nuns crying.
She told me a funny thing that happened after they were married. She told him to break his toast, but evidently he didn't remember to do it, so she got angry & grabbed his piece & said, as she broke it in pieces, "If you won't break it, I'll break it for you!"
To show you he also had a temper, there was a woman he had made dentures for who kept coming back complaining they still didn't fit. The last time he said, "Here, give them to me & I'll fix them," so when she did, he took them & threw them on the floor where they broke in pieces. He more than likely told Grams, because after he gave her a string of cultured pearls that didn't hang just right, when she showed this to him, he said, "Give them to me," but she said, "Oh, no you don't!"
 |
| Allene K. Russell 1917 |
I used to help her polish the silverware before Thanksgiving & Christmas when our relatives came for the holiday dinners. Those were the only times she would use the gold-banded dishes, & she always washed them herself, so, as far as I know, none of them got chipped. [Your sister] has the set & told me that she uses part of them occassionally [sic]. She also has her engagement cups.
At Christmas time she & I cracked walnuts & then I'd sell bags of them for money to buy gifts with. Then I'd go to the Woolworth's where I'd buy a 10 [cent] gift for all of them.
I spent many happy times with her--shelling peas & stringing & breaking into smaller pieces string beans.
L--, I remember that you were a Job's Daughter for a while. Will you please write & tell me what you can remember about it?
I joined when I was 13 & remained one until I reached 18, which was the oldest you could be. Your Aunt Jean was elected Honored Queen, & your Aunt Helene served as Senior Princess. I was the Musician for most of the time, but also was Recorder for one term.
Well, dear, I've used all my writing paper for now. Still waiting to get a letter from you.
Love you, love you, love you--
Mom
Letters from Grandpa 6 Nov. 1915
I was sent a box of mementos which belonged to my grandmother, Allene Kelley Russell. Much of what was in the box were letters she had received from my grandfather, Frank H. Russell, during their courtship. This is the text from the first letter.
Written on letter paper from Hotel Turpin, 17 Powell St., San Francisco, California
Dear Allene
It seems to me it has been a year since I "got" your last letter,--it's been almost a week--and I want another so I'm going to pen you a few lines and put you in debt to me.
Had made all arrangements for leaving Thursday, but received a letter from a cousin in Los Angeles which caused me to postpone my return to Elko indefinitely. It is a business proposition and if, after I've talked it over with him, I decide to take it up I will stay in California.
He wired me that he would come to San Francisco in a week or ten days. Maybe I'll not wait for him but will go down there. Anyhow there's a little girlie down near there whom I'd like to see. She's in such a prison and has so many guards watching over her tho' that I'm afraid I'd find all entrances-and exits too--barred. Let us be thankful for small favors and larger ones in proportion. I am thankful for the privelege [sic] of writing to her altho' I'm still wondering if these epistles must be passed by the board of censors before she gets 'em.
I wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Maze but as yet have not heard from them.--Possibly they answered and the letter is in Elko. I hope they are well and happy and able to write to you often enough to keep you from getting lonesome and homesick. Of course now that you have learned to talk french [sic] you can keep yourself company--huh? Ask yourself questions in one language and answer in the other, huh? again.
Any more exciting baloons [sic] or awful electric shocks-or-teacher's birthdays?
Now don't wait a week Allene to answer--cause I'm the boy who doesn't like to wait.
Sincerely yours
Frank
San Francisco, November 6th, 1915
Written on letter paper from Hotel Turpin, 17 Powell St., San Francisco, California
Dear Allene
It seems to me it has been a year since I "got" your last letter,--it's been almost a week--and I want another so I'm going to pen you a few lines and put you in debt to me.
Had made all arrangements for leaving Thursday, but received a letter from a cousin in Los Angeles which caused me to postpone my return to Elko indefinitely. It is a business proposition and if, after I've talked it over with him, I decide to take it up I will stay in California.
He wired me that he would come to San Francisco in a week or ten days. Maybe I'll not wait for him but will go down there. Anyhow there's a little girlie down near there whom I'd like to see. She's in such a prison and has so many guards watching over her tho' that I'm afraid I'd find all entrances-and exits too--barred. Let us be thankful for small favors and larger ones in proportion. I am thankful for the privelege [sic] of writing to her altho' I'm still wondering if these epistles must be passed by the board of censors before she gets 'em.
I wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Maze but as yet have not heard from them.--Possibly they answered and the letter is in Elko. I hope they are well and happy and able to write to you often enough to keep you from getting lonesome and homesick. Of course now that you have learned to talk french [sic] you can keep yourself company--huh? Ask yourself questions in one language and answer in the other, huh? again.
Any more exciting baloons [sic] or awful electric shocks-or-teacher's birthdays?
Now don't wait a week Allene to answer--cause I'm the boy who doesn't like to wait.
Sincerely yours
Frank
San Francisco, November 6th, 1915
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