1919 2 22 Beatrice Rose to Florence Rose

I will change some spelling and some grammar as I transcribe.  Kingston, New York is in Ulster County.

'Beatrice' May Rose Camp was 12-years old when she wrote this letter to her sister, 'Florence' Alice Rose Lawler.  'Olive' Letha Rose Schnack was their sister and Clifton Rose their brother.  'Papa' was their father, Elbert Rose.  'Aunt Addie' was Elbert's sister, Ada Rose Woolheater. 'Bessie' Woolheater Winfield and Eva Woolheater were Ada's daughters.  'Odell' was their cousin, a son of their father's brother, William Rose.

I haven't discovered yet the identity of 'Aunt Cora.'  Please offer your suggestions in the comment field at the end.  Also if you know what an 'optic' was.

72 Clinton Ave.
Kingston, N.Y.
Feb. 22, 1919

Dear Florence,

I received the cards and was very glad to get them.  I have broken the rules already.  You know I was to write every Saturday and I didn't last Saturday.  I started one at night and finished it Wednesday.  But, it was written with pencil and I thought you would think that I was lazy.

It is two o'clock now and I have been busy ever

since I got up.

Bessie washed the dishes for breakfast and Olive and I dried them.  I dusted in the parlor and then cleaned the bath-room and then Bessie and I went out shopping on Broadway.

Papa wrote to Clifton last Sunday night and sent him a dollar.  I was to Sunday school last Sunday and the Sunday before.

Last Saturday, Papa took Olive and I up to Stelles (the store on the corner of Wall and John Sts.) and bought us each a new pair of shoes.

Mine are patent leather bottoms and button cloth tops.  And, Olive's are just plain leather.  They both cost $1.98 and Papa bought me a pair of arch supports and they cost $1.57 and the whole thing came to $5.51.  Bessie thought that Papa got a bargain.  They had a sale and that is how we happened to get them so cheap.

We are not going to get the optic anymore.  Ed Tompkins said that it wasn't appreciated.

I saw Abbey _alace.  I think it was Wednesday she said that George Moorey was down here.

I have seen her once before with Aunt Cora's sister.

Valentine's Day was Aunt Addie's Birthday and Eva gave her the loveliest cake.  We had a surprise party and we were all in the other room.  And, Eva and Bessie got every thing ready.  And, when we came out, there sat the cake and two plates of sandwiches, beef, and coffee.  And Oh!  That cake, it was just grand.  It was round and as big as a little dishpan.  And, we had ice cream bricks; all but Aunt Addie.  She had 

vanilla as she don't like chocolate or strawberry.

We had school Valentine's Day and from half past two to twenty minutes after three, we had exercises.  And, yesterday we had exercises from 2:30 to 3:20.  Oh, I just love to have exercises.

Bessie is taking a course in short hand at Spencer's College.  Olive got a card from Aunt Hattie and she said that she had sent me a card, but I didn't receive it.

You know, up to the ten cent store where Eva is working, they got some goldfish in and Eva bought three and the 

loveliest big bowl.

I think that I will try and get Papa to get me a pair of stockings as I need a pair awful much.  And, these old shoes are getting worn out.  And, the lining is wearing out and it makes holes in my stockings.

I told you before that Odell had a sore throat, didn't I?  Papa was here yesterday a little while and he told Aunt Addie that he took Uncle Will home Thursday night sick.  And, he could hardly breath.  And yesterday, Aunt Addie said that the doctor

said he would be alright in a few days.

I suppose you had a great time Valentine's Day.  I am sure I did over to school.  We made a Valentine's box and made Valentines to put in it.  I got one from the teacher, Miss Fitzgerald, and two or three from a girl school friend, Alice Hunter.

Well, I will close and write a longer letter next time as I can't think of anymore to say.

Goodbye
Beatrice

P.S.
You know the last letter

I wrote cost me six cents.  Sunday night, I put it in the mailbox and Monday noon I got it back without any stamp.  It is lucky that I said where it was from. 

1919 1 24 Beatrice Rose to Florence Rose

I will change some spelling and some grammar as I transcribe.  Kingston, New York is in Ulster County.

'Beatrice' Rose Camp wrote this letter when she was 12-years old to her sister, 'Florence' Rose Lawler.  'Olive' Rose Schnack was their sister and 'Clifton' Rose was their brother.  'Papa' is their father, Elbert Rose.  Elbert's sister, 'Aunt Lin' is Malinda Rose Townsend.  'Aunt Addie' is Ada Rose Woolheater, another sister of Elbert's. 'Eva' Woolheater and Bessie Woolheater Winfield are Ada's daughters.  'Margie' Winfield is Bessie's daughter Marjorie.  'Grandma' is Alice Clayton More.  'Aunt Ella' is Ella Baker More, Alice's daughter-in-law. 'Uncle Will' is Elbert's brother William Rose. 

72 Clinton Ave.

Kingston, N.Y.

Jan. 24, 1919

Dear Florence;

There is no school this afternoon as there are commencement exercises down to the High School.

We didn't have any examinations down here.  Our everyday work counted for promotions.  All of the sixth grade got promoted and we will go in another room tomorrow.  I got promoted although I didn't pass in geography.  I got 66 2/3 and 2/3 counts one or 67.  My class standings I counted out to be

60.  When I told the teacher, she said she didn't believe me; that I would have to figure it over again but I didn't.

I have just got my dishes done and Olive dried them and now Olive is taking the carpet off the stairs.

Say Florence, did you think that we were not going to write at all?  I will tell you how it happened.  Last Sunday, Olive wrote a letter to you and Clifton and Aunt Lin.  And, of course, I thought they had been sent. Last night Papa was here and he asked if we had got a letter from you.  And then, Olive happened to

think that she had not sent them.  Every day through the week, I kept asking Aunt Addie if we had any mail and wondering why you didn't write.  When I heard her say that last night, I was mad to think that we hadn't written.

Eva, Jeanette and Al, Jean's beau, went to Poughkeepsie on Tuesday.  Eva bought Jimmie a bag of chocolate; and, Aunt Addie and Olive and I, a great big bag of hard candy.  Jeanette bought herself a dandy new spring hat; black straw with a little blue feather on each point.  It was a shape of a triangle.  It was beautiful.

Perhaps you saw Eva's shoes that I think were in the closet in your bedroom.  Anyway, they had low heels, brown cloth tops and brown leather bottoms.  Eva gave them to Olive and Papa had them taped and the heels straightened.  They make her a dandy pair of shoes to wear for best but Eva said for her to wear them to school.

I haven't had my teeth fixed yet and they need it pretty bad.  I am not going to have that double tooth crowned because it is too far gone but the two front ones I am going to have filled with gold.

Don't you think that will be alright?

I have not heard from Grandma yet, have you?  When I do, I will thank them for the things.  It was very nice of them.

I suppose you will be glad to get a letter written on good paper, although, the writing isn't very good.  Florence, if you knew how nervous I get when I try to write a letter, you wouldn't expect me to write at all.  I have written so much over to school in a hurry and it simply spoils my writing.  Now when I try to write a letter good, my arm aches so.  But I will have to

get used to it.

Bessie and Margie, Bessie's little girl, are coming up here to stay quite a long time. Bessie's husband, Jim, is going out west and work.

Oh say!  While I think of it.  How long is Grandma and the rest of them going to stay out there?

We, I mean Papa, got a letter from Clifton yesterday.  He said that they butchered Murray's pig and Kate cried.  He said that he laughed right in front of her.  And, he said that the chimney caught on fire up on the farm and the house came near to burning up.  He told Papa to get his furniture insured.  And, some boards came near burning into (we don't know exactly what he means by that) and that Obed cut his leg down to the bone.  And, Papa said, "I wouldn't have cared if he had cut it way off."  Clifton told you about the boy staying at Obed's by the name of John Lasher.  He told Clifton that when the chimney was on fire, that the bricks were red hot.  And, that John Lasher drove the team all over and that they came near to running away from him.

Of course I don't believe in dreams but, it was just a few days, or nights, I mean, that I dreamt that the house came near burning up.

And you know, when I read that letter it made me awful homesick and I don't know why.  I didn't get to sleep till about twelve o'clock.

I think maybe that Olive and I are going to the moving pictures tonight.  I think maybe that Papa will be over tonight and take us all.  Or, if he doesn't come, then Eva is going to take us.

We just got a letter from Aunt Ella today (this afternoon).  She said it was storming up there.

It rained very hard here last night but today it is funny.  The sun

will shine for a minute and then go under the clouds.  It snowed just a little this morning but all it's doing now is the wind is blowing quite hard.

Uncle Will isn't working now.  He has been quite sick.  It is his kidneys now.  The doctors say he'll be alright if he doesn't have the Dropsy.

Since you went away, Aunt Addie has got herself a dandy new coat.  It is something like Jeanette's coat only it has black seal fur collar and cuffs.  And, Eva has a new suit with a black seal collar.  It is wine colored.  She paid $39.00 for it.

And, Jean has got her a new blue serge dress and a new $10.00 pair of brown

shoes.  And, I forgot to tell you that Eva got her a new pair of shoes with kid tops and patent leather bottoms.  And, Olive has gotten a new blue velvet hat with streamers on it.  It was on sale.  It was a two dollars and 87 ($2.87) hat and they got it for a dollar ninety-eight ($1.98).  I didn't get anything new.  Isn't that a shame?

Jimmy gave Olive and I each a stick of gum this noon.

I think if I can get Aunt Ella's letter in with this, in an envelope, I will send it to you and let you read it if you will send it back.  I think you will like to read it.

None of us have been uptown since we got your letter so we couldn't get the dye, but we'll try and send it the fore part of the week.

I forgot to tell you that Eva got her a dandy black seal muff to match Aunt Addie's and her coat.  I mean the fur on their coats.  It is Hudson seal.

You know, while we were washing dishes, Olive thought of a plan.  She said that if anyone slapped faces or pulled hair or quarreled, that they would get shut up in the clothes press and locked in for 15 minutes.  I wouldn't do it

and she got mad and undressed and went to bed.  She went upstairs and we didn't know where she was.  I went upstairs to see where she was.  She had made the bed and was in her night gown, and the window up a little ways.  I told Aunt Addie and she told me to shut the window.  I covered her up and shut the window and it was just two minutes after I was down, that she came down and said she wasn't asleep at all.  Well, will close with love.  If you write just as long a letter as I do, you will do good.

Beatrice

1918 12 15 Olive Rose to Florence Rose

I will change some spelling and some grammar as I transcribe.  Kingston, New York is in Ulster County.

My grandmother, 'Olive' Letha Rose Schnack, wrote this letter when she was 10-years old, to her sister 'Florence' Alice Rose Lawler. 'Papa' is their father, Elbert Rose.  Elbert's sister, 'Aunt Addie', is Ada Rose Woolheater.  'Eva' May Woolheater is her daughter.  I don't know who 'Aunt Lib' is.  If you have any suggestions for her identity, please leave a comment.

Kingston, N.Y.
72 Clinton Ave.
Dec. 15, 1918

Dear Florence,

Say Florence, did you receive that money?  Papa wants to know if you are coming down Christmas.  If so, when shall we meet you?  We're going to have a great time Christmas and it won't be complete without you.

Don't tell Eva if you come down because Aunt Addie and us girls are going to hang up Eva's stocking and fill it with trash.

Miss Schultz is boarding here.  Her fellow is here tonight; Al Mallot, a Jew.  Eva and Jimmie Gillespie are in the parlor.

Aunt Lib is here and I guess

she will be here Christmas.

Now be sure and come down or you will be sorry.  You will also miss a lot of fun.

Now be sure and answer this letter immediately.

Your Sister,
Olive

1918 12 6 Olive Rose to Florence Rose

I will change some spelling and some grammar as I transcribe.

This letter was written by my grandmother, 'Olive' Letha Rose Schnack, when she was 10-years old, to her sister, 'Florence' Alice Rose Lawler.  'Clifton' is their brother.  'Papa' is their father, Elbert Rose.  'Aunt Addie' is Elbert's sister, Ada Rose Woolheater.  'Aunt Sarah' might possibly be Ada's mother-in-law. 'Eva' May Woolheater Tiffany is Ada's daughter.  'Jennette' might possibly be Janette Shultz.  Kingston, New York is in Ulster County.

Kingston, N.Y.
72 Clinton Ave.
Dec. 6, 1918

Dear Florence,

Beatrice didn't write half of the things.  Papa is going to send you some more money to come down with.

Aunt Addie says for you to be sure and come down here for Christmas vacation.  Do not think that Aunt Addie doesn't want you to come down.  Aunt Sarah is coming Friday to help Aunt Addie make our dresses.

Now be sure you come down.

Your sis
Olive

P.S.
Clifton was down here for Thanksgiving.  He only had one day down here.  Don't make calculation for going anywhere for Christmas, only coming down here.  I tried and begged Papa to send you five dollars but he won't.

Yes, Jennette is here, or, Miss Shultz and so is Eva's fellow, Jimmy Gillespie.

Now  be sure and come down Christmas.

1918 11 18 Beatrice Rose to Florence Rose

I will change some spelling and some grammar as I transcribe.

This letter was written by 'Beatrice' May Rose Camp, when she was 12-years old, to her sister, 'Florence' Alice Rose Lawler.  'Olive' Letha Rose Schnack was their sister and 'Clifton' More Rose their brother.  'Papa' is their father, Elbert Rose.  Their maternal 'Grandma' was Alice Estelle Clayton More.  'Aunt Minnie' is Elbert's sister Minnie B. Rose Springer whose husband is 'Uncle Oscar'.  'Aunt Addie' is Ada Rose Woolheater and her daughter is 'Eva' May Woolheater Tiffany Schultz.  Kingston, New York is in Ulster County.  Albany, New York is in Albany County.

Kingston, N.Y.
Nov. 18, 1918

Dear Florence,

I received a letter from Clifton this forenoon when we came home for dinner.  We thought he was never going to write.  You know we were going to send him a birthday present and that was the day the war ended (so it will be easy for him to remember), and the Post Office was closed, so it didn't get sent until the twelfth.  I sent him a fifteen cent necktie and Olive a 15¢ pair of socks and Papa sent him a dollar.  He said in his letter that he didn't realize it was til two days after.  I suppose that's when he got his things.  He says it is almost like home to him.  He said he was going to write to you and that he had written to Grandma before.

I am very glad to hear that you have passed the hardest subject.  I like to go to school very much.  All you have to bring home is your spelling book and dictionary.  You have to look the meaning of the word up.  There are four little negroes in our room; three girls and one boy.  Didn't you know when we came to Kingston it was the (7th) seventh of Nov., Thursday?  We expect to stay all winter or maybe longer.  We don't know.

Papa bought us each a new dress and a pair of gloves.

We have got the books with us.  I like them very much.

Eva and Papa were six miles this side of Albany on Sunday to see Aunt Minnie and Uncle Oscar.  I don't feel very well tonight so will close and I got all my school work to do.

Beatrice

P.S.
Aunt Addie is going to make me a new blue serge dress out of one of Eva's.