1926 1 20 Olive Rose to Elbert Rose

Spelling and grammar may be changed as I transcribe.   The letter itself is dated  20 Jan 1925 but the envelope was postmarked 21 Jan 1926.  I believe my grandmother's memory of the year slipped as it does for many people in January of each new year.  The location is Albany, Albany County, New York.

My grandmother, 'Olive' Letha Rose Schnack wrote this letter to her 'Dad', Elbert Rose.  'Florence' Alice Rose Lawler was her sister.  'Clifton' More Rose was their brother and 'Lena' his wife.  'Charlotte' Rose is the daughter of Clifton and Lena.  'Uncle Arthur' or 'Uncle Art' was Elbert's brother Arthur Ezra Rose.  'Aunt Clyde' was Arthur's second wife, Clydis M. Clough Rose. 'Bob' was  Arthur's son, Robert Randolph Rose, by his first wife, Louise M. Humphrey Rose.  'Aunt Minnie' is Elbert's sister, Minnie B. Rose Springer and 'Oscar' is her husband.

In regards to Arthur's visit to Minnie and Oscar's home; the 1925 New York State census shows their address to be the village of Kings Point in the town of Great Neck in Nassau County.  Kings Point was the inspiration for the novel "The Great Gatsby" which was a fictional account of the decadent Roaring Twenties era.

68 North Lake Ave.
Albany, New York
January 20, 1925

Dear Dad,

I suppose I should be writing this to Clifton and Lena to thank them for the garment they sent me.  But I trust you will do that for me.  Tell Lena it fitted good.

Probably Florence told you that I expected to have Sunday dinner with Uncle Arthur and Aunt Clyde.  I went over after church and as they had arisen late, I also had breakfast with them.  Aunt Clyde, Bob, and I went to church in the evening.

I had a letter from Florence this morning.  She says you think you can't afford to let me go to New York.  I really don't care.  I would much rather you paid some of the Doctors' bills which must be paid.  Now about my coming home;  you see I have a day off for Washington's Birthday, Feb. 22, and I would rather come home then than now.  It would make it shorter until Easter vacation.  You wouldn't be able to get me a pass now & then, too, nor could you afford to pay my car fare.  Aunt Clyde is going to go to

Newburgh the first week in February (that's the week I have off) and she asked me over there to stay.  You see, I could get Bob's and Uncle Arthur's meals for them and really be of some use.  Please let me know whether you want me to come home or would just as soon I should stay.  Florence probably won't want me to go over because she dislikes Aunt Clyde so, but Aunt Clyde really did a lot for me when I was sick.

Uncle Art has seen Aunt Minnie and has been out to the place where they live.  Oscar is gardener on some estate.

Now, please write.  You haven't written to me once this year.

You'll have to put about $12 in the bank by next week.

Lots of love,
Olive

Destroy this after you have read it!

Be sure to write and let me know.

1926 1 7 Olive Rose to Elbert Rose

Spelling and grammar may be changed as I transcribe this letter.  The location is Albany, Albany County, New York.

'Olive' Letha Rose Schnack wrote this letter to her 'Dad', Elbert Rose.  'Florence' Alice Rose Lawler was her sister.  'Charlotte' Rose is her niece.

68 North Lake Avenue
Albany, New York
January 7, 1926

Dear Dad,

I suppose you will be surprised to hear from me so soon but there's a reason.  Dr. Graham called me up this afternoon and is real mad because his bill has not been paid.  I was foolish enough to say that I thought he had overcharged.  It wasn't Dr. Graham himself but I imagine his nurse.  She said that it was Dr. Graham who diagnosed the case and probably I wouldn't have pulled through if it hadn't been for him.

Well, I drew up a check of $5 and sent it to him.  It doesn't have to be in a bunch.  I have just enough money to pay another week's board but that is not the point.  If you feel that you can't spare the money to pay those up, I guess I'll leave after these January exams and earn enough to pay them.

Everybody has been telling me ever since I came back how bad I look.  I've got the hives quite bad and am exposed to the

German Measles.  That's all!

Write Soon.  How's Charlotte?

Lots of love,
Olive

P.S.
One of the women who eats here works in the State Educational Department.  She knows the woman who is in the office of the man from whom I would have to get my permit.  She asked her what the chances were and this woman told her that it would be easy for me to get a permit with two years of college.  But, the permit must be obtained through the local district superintendent.  For example, if I went to Pine Hill, Wallace Andrews would have to get my permit for me.  Some girl up here gave me the name of a trustee of a rural school near Franklin where the teacher is not coming back.  I am going to try there first.  Please write soon.

Olive

Show this to Florence.

1925 12 13 Olive Rose to Elbert Rose

Spelling and grammar may be changed as I transcribe.  The location is Albany, Albany County, New York.

My grandmother, 'Olive' Letha Rose Schnack wrote this letter to her 'Dad', Elbert Rose.  'Florence' Alice Rose Lawler was her sister.  'Clif' was her brother, Clifton More Rose, and 'Lena' his wife.  'Charlotte' is the child of Clif and Lena.

Olive is attending New York State College for Teachers in Albany.  The family members in this letter live in Oneonta, Otsego County, New York.

68 North Lake Ave.
Albany, New York
December 13, 1925

Dear Dad,

Why don't you answer a letter once in a while?  By the rate you people in Oneonta write letters to me, you would think you had your right hand cut off.

As you probably know by this time, I called Florence up last night.  She said that she had only put $15 in the bank for me.  That means that I have overdrawn my account by about $8.  Tomorrow, my board is due again.  It will 

be $8.50 this time.  Besides that I haven't bought a single Christmas present yet.  I am only going to get a few now.  I have to put in $1.00 toward a Christmas present for Miss Carl and the girl who waits on table.  My fare will be $3.  I do hope you will hurry and put the money in because if my check comes back, no one will take it again.

I had another bill from Dr. Graham yesterday, $20.  I want to bring that back with me from Christmas

vacation.  I guess I'll have to have about $22 to pull through now.

I haven't heard from anybody since I came back so I don't know where I'll go or anything.  Do Clif & Lena expect me there Friday p.m.?  I wish you would either write or call up and tell me.  My phone number is West 4554M.

Now, please hurry.  I will see you Friday.  My train gets there at 6:30 p.m.

Lots of love,
Olive

I can hardly wait til I see Charlotte.

1925 9 25 Olive Rose to Elbert Rose

I might change some spelling and some grammar as I transcribe.  This letter is written from Albany, Albany County, New York.

My grandmother, 'Olive' Letha Rose Schnack wrote this letter when she was 17-years old to her 'Dad', Elbert Rose.  'Florence' Alice Rose Lawler was her sister.  'Uncle Owen' is her maternal uncle, Owen Wickes More.  'Clif' was her brother, Clifton More Rose, and his wife was 'Lena' Mae Carrington Rose.  'Charlotte Grace' is their daughter.  I believe the second photograph was made about the time that Olive writes this letter, or not much later. 

Lena Mae Carrington and Clifton More Rose married in Oneonta, New York on 16 June 1924.

 Charlotte, Lena, and Clifton Rose with Olive Rose on far right.   

 68 North Lake Ave.
Albany, New York
Sept. 25, 1925

Dear Dad,

I am all settled here now and like it very much.  The place where I am is about three minutes walk from school.  We have an elderly woman, old maid, for a landlady.  There are three other girls here.  One is a Senior and the other two are Freshmen.  The board and room is $10.50.  I couldn't get it any cheaper.  We have the privilege

or pressing out a few things and of washing handkerchiefs and stockings.  The rest I will either have to send home or get someone to do.

I went down to see Dr. Worth, the eye doctor.  He said he would have to test my eyes again so I am going tomorrow to have drops put in.  Florence put the money Uncle Owen gave me in the bank and I paid for my first week's board.  I will have to put another

dollar with it to pay next week's board.  Don't forget to put money in for me on payday.

How's Charlotte Grace?  And Clif and Lena?  Tell them all to write and I want you to answer this too.  You have lots of time on Sunday.

I haven't made up my exams yet.  The school doctor said I could have ample time to make them up.  So I will pass them all anyway.

Well, I must close now and go to school.

Be sure to write and tell me how you are, and how your job is.

Lots of love
Olive