Letters from Grandpa 14 March 1916

The Brown Hotel
Daniel Morrison, Prop.
Eureka, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley,
Modesto,
California

Allene Dearest:~After a long six hours ride in the dinky old narrow guage [sic] from Palisade on the main line we arrived safely, but much the worse for wear. Eureka, as it stands now--and little of it is standing,--is hardly a toombstone [sic] for what it used to be. For at least ten years during it's [sic] best days it had a population of as many thousands and was one of the liveliest camps in the state,--(that was in the "early days" from about 1880 to 1890)--but it has dwindled down to almost nothing.

It's a mystery to me how the remaining inhabitants live and it's a fact that a big percentage are wards of the county. There are five well filled cemeterys [sic] here that speak in sombre silence of the better days. Now not even the dogs come out to bark at strangers. As the old fashioned bus that meets the twice a week train carries you slowly up the hill thru' the town one can see on either side an occasional pair of sleepy eyes that seem to brighten up with excitement at your arrival and in an hour or two the entire community knows there's a stranger in town.

And we've got to stay here about two weeks!! Somehow or other I've always made money here. They seem to have plenty of tooth troubles and the money to pay for the fixing--thank God.

Well dearest it seems like a century since I got a letter from you--and it has been. Havent [sic] had one since Friday and here it is Tuesday--and the next mail won't arrive till Thursday! It takes two days for mail to go and come from the main line. In 1910 this R.R. was washed out and the mail contract was let to a stage line and they've been carrying it ever since. So at the best you won't get this before Friday dear and by that time I'll be in receipt of a whole raft of yours--I hope.

With all my love dearest I'll say good night.

Yours always,
Frank

Eureka, Nevada,
March 14th, 1916

Letters from Grandpa 27 December 1915

My Dearest:~
If that little card in the frame conveys your tho'ts,~and I believe you selected it and sent it because it did,~I'm happier than when I received your picture. Every little message or remembrance from you dear just adds to my happiness, so you mustn't think the picture is any the less appreciated.

And I'm so glad you were pleased with the contents of the package I sent. Needless to say your wish that I could have been in Modesto was my wish but I suppose~yes know~if I had been there I'd have been just as scared and shy as I was at H. H. [Huntington Hall-ed.] Maybe I'll overcome that trait of my nature some time.

Tomorrow we,~Dr. Whitesides my partner,~ and I expect to start to Midas, (via Golconda) Nevada. It's a little mining town about 150 miles from here. We will take our instruments etc. and remain in the camp as long as we are busy,~maybe a week and maybe six.

I hate to leave Elko even for a little while but duty calls and necessity demands. You bet Elko is a nice little town dear~at least I think so. Wide streets? Why the main business street is so wide you almost need a telescope to see across.

It isn't a mining town altho' there is considerable mining going on around here. It is the county seat of Elko County and it's [sic] principal resourses [sic] are ranching and stock raising.

We are on the main line of two transcontinental railroads, the U. P. and S. P. so are supplied with two express companies. We also have the Postal telegraph service besides the Western Union. Telephones, electric lights, in fact almost all modern conveniences.

Will write or wire you, dear soon as I reach Midas, but in the meantime don't you wait~address me there~I'll get the letter.

Just think, in Midas New Year's Eve! Well it serves me right but that doesn't relieve the agony of going to bed with those tho'ts. Will have to do it tho' cause it's past midnight

Always yours
Frank
~~~~~
December 27th, 1915~