Letters from Avanelle
July, 1963
The following letters were written by David's mom to her husband's parents in July, 1963. She describes the family's move from Dallas, Texas to Long Island, New York with 4 young children: David, age 7; Lynne, age 5; Teresa, age 2, and Ruth, age 7 months.
Images of the letters are here, along with pictures of the family's new home and car.
Images of the letters are here, along with pictures of the family's new home and car.
Thursday, [July] 11, [1963].
Dear Mom and Daddy,
You haven't given us up yet have you? I've been trying to get time to write, but it seems like I can't find that time. I like to sleep too well I guess so I take a nap whenever I get a chance.
We are still looking for a house. Either the houses are too small, rent too high, or they don't want 4 children. We'll probably find something soon though I expect. Until we do though you can write us at Ken Russell's address... We unloaded our trailer in their garage. Ray and Mr. Bynum got up here Tuesday of this week [pulling another trailer of our belongings] but we still haven't seen them. Maybe we'll get over there this evening.
We looked at a house to buy that we liked and want to look at it again this evening. All we get done is look, look, look, and so far we haven't found much, but we will surely find something suitable soon.
Now we are living in a bungalow (or cabin) at Great River [Wolffe's Cabins]. We don't have any hot water but we do have a bathroom -- with a cold shower. We use one of the other couple's shower with hot water and sometimes we take "hospital baths" and I heat the water on the stove. Of course, it could be better, but it is better than living with another family, and surely we won't be out here too much longer.
We had a nice trip all in all I guess. At 45 MPH it took a long time, and we were all worn out. Roger doesn't think he wants to pull a trailer like that anymore. Mr. Bynum got a round trip trailer for less money and now he was to pull his all the way back to Texas! He said if he had it to do over again, he wouldn't do it like that. I don't think it turned out as rosy as he thought it would!
We spent Thursday night after we left [June 27, 1963] in Bartlesville, [Oklahoma] and had a nice visit there. [Roger's high school friends] Norman and Ida [Nickels] came to [Avanelle's brother] Duane's to see us.
We hadn't even got to Vinita [Oklahoma, 50 miles from Bartlesville] on Friday [June 28] when the tread came off one tire on the car. It wasn't but 50 miles on to Carthage, Missouri where my Grandpa [Albert Jacobs] and aunt and uncle [Art and Irene Jacobs] live so we went on there, and Roger and Uncle Art spent all Friday afternoon getting a new tire for the car, a new tire for the trailer, and over-loads on the car. We didn't have any more trouble after that. It was so late when they got the car fixed that we ate supper and went to bed and slept till about 1 [A.M.] when we left again.
We got to St. Louis about noon [Saturday, June 29], and had lunch and visited a couple hours with Bill and Mildred Carrell -- the ones I kept Ronald for in Stillwater [Oklahoma]. We drove on Saturday to Marshall, Illinois where we spent the night and went to church Sunday [June 30]. We ate dinner with the preacher and his wife in Marshall; then we drove off and on all night Sunday night and stopped just out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Monday night [July 1]. We left Roger's suits there, but we hope they will send them. I finally sent them an address yesterday.
We got on out here on the island about 3 Tuesday afternoon [July 2]. Our main trouble was coming through Brooklyn with the trailer because they wouldn't let us on the freeway with it. Roger processed at Grumman last Wednesday [July 3, 1963] and went to work Tuesday of this week [July 9]. He thinks he will like it fine.
Ava Lynne finally got her tooth out the last of the week, and David is about to lose his other front tooth. Ruth Ann cut 2 on top on the trip and has another one almost through. She is pretty cross in the car since we've been in it so much, but all in all I think they've done real well. Teresa has some cold but it's no wonder. It was hot and humid most of our trip, but the day after we got here, it cooled off and has been cold at night -- 55 or 60 degrees and only 70 degrees or so during the day. It feels good to me though, but Roger freezes! I ask him what he thinks he will do in January!
It's getting late so I'd better get busy. We'll be looking for a letter soon. Thanks again for helping us load and the things you made the children [for] the trip.
Love,
Nell & all
P.S. We still haven't got a car yet.
Dear Mom and Daddy,
You haven't given us up yet have you? I've been trying to get time to write, but it seems like I can't find that time. I like to sleep too well I guess so I take a nap whenever I get a chance.
We are still looking for a house. Either the houses are too small, rent too high, or they don't want 4 children. We'll probably find something soon though I expect. Until we do though you can write us at Ken Russell's address... We unloaded our trailer in their garage. Ray and Mr. Bynum got up here Tuesday of this week [pulling another trailer of our belongings] but we still haven't seen them. Maybe we'll get over there this evening.
We looked at a house to buy that we liked and want to look at it again this evening. All we get done is look, look, look, and so far we haven't found much, but we will surely find something suitable soon.
Now we are living in a bungalow (or cabin) at Great River [Wolffe's Cabins]. We don't have any hot water but we do have a bathroom -- with a cold shower. We use one of the other couple's shower with hot water and sometimes we take "hospital baths" and I heat the water on the stove. Of course, it could be better, but it is better than living with another family, and surely we won't be out here too much longer.
We had a nice trip all in all I guess. At 45 MPH it took a long time, and we were all worn out. Roger doesn't think he wants to pull a trailer like that anymore. Mr. Bynum got a round trip trailer for less money and now he was to pull his all the way back to Texas! He said if he had it to do over again, he wouldn't do it like that. I don't think it turned out as rosy as he thought it would!
We spent Thursday night after we left [June 27, 1963] in Bartlesville, [Oklahoma] and had a nice visit there. [Roger's high school friends] Norman and Ida [Nickels] came to [Avanelle's brother] Duane's to see us.
We hadn't even got to Vinita [Oklahoma, 50 miles from Bartlesville] on Friday [June 28] when the tread came off one tire on the car. It wasn't but 50 miles on to Carthage, Missouri where my Grandpa [Albert Jacobs] and aunt and uncle [Art and Irene Jacobs] live so we went on there, and Roger and Uncle Art spent all Friday afternoon getting a new tire for the car, a new tire for the trailer, and over-loads on the car. We didn't have any more trouble after that. It was so late when they got the car fixed that we ate supper and went to bed and slept till about 1 [A.M.] when we left again.
We got to St. Louis about noon [Saturday, June 29], and had lunch and visited a couple hours with Bill and Mildred Carrell -- the ones I kept Ronald for in Stillwater [Oklahoma]. We drove on Saturday to Marshall, Illinois where we spent the night and went to church Sunday [June 30]. We ate dinner with the preacher and his wife in Marshall; then we drove off and on all night Sunday night and stopped just out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Monday night [July 1]. We left Roger's suits there, but we hope they will send them. I finally sent them an address yesterday.
We got on out here on the island about 3 Tuesday afternoon [July 2]. Our main trouble was coming through Brooklyn with the trailer because they wouldn't let us on the freeway with it. Roger processed at Grumman last Wednesday [July 3, 1963] and went to work Tuesday of this week [July 9]. He thinks he will like it fine.
Ava Lynne finally got her tooth out the last of the week, and David is about to lose his other front tooth. Ruth Ann cut 2 on top on the trip and has another one almost through. She is pretty cross in the car since we've been in it so much, but all in all I think they've done real well. Teresa has some cold but it's no wonder. It was hot and humid most of our trip, but the day after we got here, it cooled off and has been cold at night -- 55 or 60 degrees and only 70 degrees or so during the day. It feels good to me though, but Roger freezes! I ask him what he thinks he will do in January!
It's getting late so I'd better get busy. We'll be looking for a letter soon. Thanks again for helping us load and the things you made the children [for] the trip.
Love,
Nell & all
P.S. We still haven't got a car yet.
Friday, July 19, [1963].
Dear Mom and Daddy,
Have wondered why we haven't heard from you -- but maybe we will today.
We're doing fine, but are still in the cabins. We found a house to buy for $900 plus closing costs down so we decided to buy it since we had borrowed that insurance money. Renting is impossible I think. Either the rent is too high (we just can't afford $175 - $200 a month for rent!), the house is not big enough, or else they don't want 4 children.
This home is in Brentwood and we hope to get the deal closed by August 1 so we can move in. The house is only 7 months old and has been well taken care of so I think we will like it. It is 3 bedroom, 1 bath, living room, and kitchen with full unfinished basement. The lot seems even larger than the one we had in Dallas. It has a Hotpoint electric table top range and oven, Frigidaire refrigerator, washer and dryer.
Roger likes his work fine. He said they asked him to work Wednesday night, so it looks like he may get some overtime.
We got a new car last night -- Viking blue with blue interior [1963] Ford Fairlane. It is 4-door, [6-cylinder], standard [transmission], radio, heater, undercoat for $2,050. We think we will like it fine and hope it gives us as good service as the other one did. The Chevrolet was too high we decided.
The children are all fine. Ruth still has some cold, but Teresa is ok now. It's lunch time so will close. Let us hear from you.
Love,
Nell & all
Dear Mom and Daddy,
Have wondered why we haven't heard from you -- but maybe we will today.
We're doing fine, but are still in the cabins. We found a house to buy for $900 plus closing costs down so we decided to buy it since we had borrowed that insurance money. Renting is impossible I think. Either the rent is too high (we just can't afford $175 - $200 a month for rent!), the house is not big enough, or else they don't want 4 children.
This home is in Brentwood and we hope to get the deal closed by August 1 so we can move in. The house is only 7 months old and has been well taken care of so I think we will like it. It is 3 bedroom, 1 bath, living room, and kitchen with full unfinished basement. The lot seems even larger than the one we had in Dallas. It has a Hotpoint electric table top range and oven, Frigidaire refrigerator, washer and dryer.
Roger likes his work fine. He said they asked him to work Wednesday night, so it looks like he may get some overtime.
We got a new car last night -- Viking blue with blue interior [1963] Ford Fairlane. It is 4-door, [6-cylinder], standard [transmission], radio, heater, undercoat for $2,050. We think we will like it fine and hope it gives us as good service as the other one did. The Chevrolet was too high we decided.
The children are all fine. Ruth still has some cold, but Teresa is ok now. It's lunch time so will close. Let us hear from you.
Love,
Nell & all