1941 6 9 Beatrice Camp to Olive Schnack

See the Names page to know how the people mentioned are related.

M.I.B. Hospital
Cooperstown, N.Y.
June 9, 1941

Dear Olive,

Daisy and Ella stopped in to see me yesterday.  I was surprised.  Today is my ninth day and I hope in a few days to feel almost human.  I just started to dry up my breasts.  I've been trying to get milk for the baby but didn't have half enough and anyway, Dr. Peckham thinks it will be a long time before baby would be strong enough to nurse.  The baby seems to be gaining.  Dr. Peckham says she has a very unladylike appetite.  For the first time, I held her in my hands yesterday.  My, she is so tiny but of course I think she is cute.  I think she looks like Len.  The nurses and doctors seem to think she is a vigorous preemie and that she stands a chance.  She is in the incubator all the time except when they feed her and I think now they have discontinued the oxygen but she was getting it

continuously.

The night nurse just brought me a dose of salts so I know I'm going to have a grand time today.  Hope I can get the pan when I need it.

I'm writing this before breakfast, am I not smart?  Last night makes the 3rd night I've slept good for the first in 8 months.  It seems good.

I hope you will be coming home soon!  It seems years since I've seen you.  Just as soon as I can, I'll come see you.  I think they are going to make me leave the baby here for a while.

Poor little Jr.  How is he?  I haven't dared think about you and him.  It makes me sick and I have felt so useless.

I'm so glad Vivian and Eddie have Aunt Hattie to take care of them.  I know they have good care.

Emilee has been coming to see me every day.  I don't know what I'd have done without her.

I have an awful sore rear end!  It is covered with great big pustules.  It is painful to sit on.  I'm going to get out of bed tomorrow for a half hour in the a.m. and a half hour in the p.m.

Do you get good care?  I'm very satisfied.  I feed a preemie that is over 4 weeks old for the nurses so that gives the nurses more time to feed mine.  Harriet gets fed every 3 hours; the others every 4 hours.

They tell me you are quite prophetic; that you knew I had a girl before anyone else.

Well, I'll be coming home Saturday.  I hate to leave my baby.  If she doesn't have to be in the incubator, I don't see why I can't take her.  I could hire Hattie for what it would cost for her here and I'd have lots of time to fuss with her.

I'm afraid you'll be all tired out trying to read this.

I have to lie on my side to keep off my sore rear.

I had the sweetest card from Vivian and Eddie.

I have written Miltie a letter.  I'm lonesome for him.  Now I have to write to Aunt Hattie.  I don't suppose you are able to write.  Try to eat a lot and get your strength back.

Hope to see you soon.

Love,
B.

1941 dated typhoid letters

This collection of letters has dates.  Grandma had all her typhoid letters, dated and undated, folded together in an envelope marked "Notes written in 1941 when I had typhoid".  Grandma was in the hospital just over a month and my father was in the hospital for several weeks.  The other family members were ill but were allowed to recover at home with care from friends and family.

The names in these letters are:

• 'Mother' or 'Olive'..........Olive Letha Rose Schnack, my grandmother
• 'Daddy' or 'Walt'.............Jochim "Walter" Schnack, my grandfather
• 'Jr.' or 'Junior' or 'Jake'....Walter J. Schnack, my father
• 'Vivian' or 'Viv'................Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope, Olive and Walt's daughter
• 'Eddy' or 'Edward'...........Edward Alexander Schnack, Olive and Walt's son
• 'Florence'.........................Florence Alice Rose Lawler, Olive's sister
• 'John L'............................John More Lawler, Florence's son
• 'Bea'.................................Beatrice May Rose Camp, Olive's sister
• 'Milt'................................Milton George Camp, Bea's son
• 'Harriet'............................Harriet Julia Camp Baird, Bea's daughter
• 'Aunt Hattie'....................Harriet More Burgett, Olive's maternal aunt
• 'Daisy'..............................Daisy D. Montana Schnack, Walt's sister-in-law

There are others named but I don't know their identities or how they relate to the family.  Or, they are general referring to an entire family.

At this time, the family lived in Laurens.  The hospital was in Oneonta.  Both of these cities are in Otsego County, New York.

May 24, 1941

Dear Mother,

How are you feeling?  I hope they're feeding you good.  How do you like your nurses?  Do you know their names?

Eddy was awful good the day you left.  Richard sent him over some blocks and he likes them a lot.  Edward's eating quite a lot now.

Dean killed a chicken so we have been having chicken broth.  We also had some spaghetti without the tomato sauce.  Mrs. Peterson sent up some chocolate pudding and six lollypops.

Jr. and I got cards from the Roses yesterday.  Miss Nelson moved the radio in here so tonight we will probably listen to our programs.  The seventh and eighth grades went to Albany Friday.  They started at 8 o'clock A.M. and got back about 7:30 P.M.

We are all feeling better, and want you to behave yourself so you will be better soon.

Jr. says to get better soon and not to worry.  Tomato juice is Jr.'s new drink.  Aunt Hattie brought us down some lilacs.

Eddy wants you to know that he is building a lot of houses with his blocks.  He says he likes spaghetti.  He likes Christine's new car. (She traded hers for this one.)  Well, I guess I'll say goodbye.

Your children,
Vivian
Jake
Eddy

Saturday

Hello Everybody,

Well, Daddy didn't come last night.  I did everything I could think of to stay awake.  The last I remember it was around 9:30.  Usually I have 2 or 3 pills to help me sleep.  They got here in a little cup this a.m.

I had a card from John L this a.m.  He said his mother had forgotten to tell me that Daisy called up last Sunday night to see how we all are.

Harriet will be a week old tonight.  I

feel real sure that Bea will get her baby this time.

Love,
Mother

Wed.
Jun. 11, 1941

Hello Everybody!

Well, I asked Dr. Clark if I could send for my bathrobe and slippers and he said yes.  That means I'll be getting out of bed for short periods and getting some strength so I can come home.  Jr is a lot better but he still sticks to one idea that Royce Carvin shot him in the neck and it hurts.

It's hard to advise you about your Geography Regents.  If someone will come up and you want to take them real bad, I suppose it will be alright.  You must study hard every day.

(Those little cards with candy and gum on were real cute.  Where did you get the idea?)

On the other hand, you could take them next January.  You mustn't feel bad if you don't pass your grade.  You are so young.

Carrie Laures and Florence were in right after dinner.  They were going to Cooperstown to see Auntie Bea.  Poor Carrie, she mourns for Charles.  Aunt Hattie, after I get home, maybe you will be able to go someplace.  You have been tied right down and couldn't go anyplace for quite awhile.  Must close now.

Love,
Mother

Have you both been good?

Wed. night
June 25, 1941

Mom,

How did you like the bouquet Christine brought you?  Today, Vivian and I played baseball (only I couldn't run).  Hurry up and get better because Milt told me that when we all got better he'd take us down to Roses.  If we can find a way to get it over to you, we would send over some reading material.  It sure feels good to get clothes on and be around outdoors.  Aunt Hattie and Vivian went berrying today and got about two quarts.

Today, Lawlers brought our groceries.  Well, so long.

Junior

P.S.
Be sure  you understand I wrote this Wednesday night.  We generally write them mornings.

Thursday night
June 26, 1941

Dear Mom,

How are you feeling?  Today we worked in the garden.  Do you have fun with your radio?  The Lawlers brought us some beet greens.  Did you listen to Baby Snooks and Frank Morgan (that liar)?  We had beet greens and potatoes and meat gravy for dinner and for supper we had greens and lettuce sandwiches.  Well, I'll end so goodbye.

Junior