It all began in 1937 …

Major News Stories of the day included Amelia Earhart, Hindenburg Disaster, Memorial Day Massacre, Joe Louis, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dust Bowl Storms and Mississippi River Flooding

… but in east central Iowa, the budding relationship of Ding and Dorothy was just beginning

This blog that is about that relationship, a specific past of two people. A past relationship, a romance spanning more than two years. The romance is preserved via letters. Letters from a man to a woman. In the late 1930s, in rural Iowa. Letters that reveal ups and downs, starts and stops, dances and parties. But we only have one side of the relationship – his side. His letters asking for dates, showing bravado, sharing everyday details.

Read how I found the letters.

So what to do with these details? I’m going to see what happens through this blog.

This is what I’m doing so far:

  • Posting the letters with the punctuation, spelling and spacing as in the original letters. [category: Letter from Ding]
  • Documenting get togethers that are pieced from comments in the letters [category: get togethers]
  • Researching items and asking the online community for information [category: research]
  • Discovering details of words and behaviors that I don’t know [category: details]
  • Noting the happenings mentioned by Ding [category: event]

Read the style notes that inform the way the letters are shown.

So, engage with me. Would you like to write Dorothy’s response to the letters? I could start a Fan Fiction category. Would you like to see historical context? I could start a current events category.

Let me know in your comments what piques your curiosity.

Monday, August 23, 1937

Dear Dorothy:

I regret very much that I did not see more of you Saturday night and want to apologize for making such a hasty departure after meeting Mr. Moore. I however had had 4 beers which is more than I can take and depend on my rationality, I wanted to be sure no one spoke out of turn.

Did you enjoy the band? for some reason or other I thought they [were] terrible, it could have been me but I still won’t like them.

Now, how would you like to come to Waterloo and go to a dance this Friday night Aug. 27th at the country club.
All you have to do Dorothy is get here, it would be nice of course to get here Friday some time before the dance starts.
I would be more than happy to take you to Eldora Saturday any time after 6P.M. if you see fit to accept this invitation, which I hope you do.

Now Dorothy you get busy and let me know right away what you intend to do about this as Friday is not so far off, my good shirt is dirty, if you accept I will get it washed and ironed get my car cleaned and pressed and just generally fixed up.

If the mail carrier does not hand me a letter Wed. from you he might as well look for a new job.

Best wishes.
Ding

 

Tuesday, August 31, 1937

Dear Dorothy:

I received your letter of a couple of Tuesday’s ago, in reply to my invitation to a country club dance. The invitation was declined so decidedly, that perhaps I should’nt write this letter.
However I deem the endeavor well worth while if you can see Fit this time.

I have no special inducement to offer this time, however I would like to have a date with you this week, if you are interested.

I did’nt go to the dance that Friday either but I understand it was a very nice party.

I don’t know where you live in the big city, however I think the postman should be able to find you and if he does I would appreciate hearing from you one way or the other, yes, of course would be swell.

The paper just came and I note Al Menke will play at the park Wed. night Sept. 1st.
I don’t suppose a school teacher could go that far from home, however if you could and you get this letter in time you could call me, I will be at the store until 5:30 and home at six phone at home is 1489.
I never go to a dance at the park during the week but with this band I would, if you could.

At any rate drop me a line and let me know whats what.

As ever
“Ding”

Monday, September 6, 1937

Dear Dorothy:

As per our conversation of Sept. 4th, here is a letter.
It is now about nine o’clock I have been out to the farm all day, just on my way home, thot I should drop you this.
We played ball at Lamont Sunday, we won our first game 16 to 0 and lost in the finals 3 to 0.
We however did win $10.00 which almost paid for our dinner that night.
I drove home thru Jesup, late that night my car wanted to bend to the left and so did I, I thot about you at the corner anyway.

I sincerely hope you arrived home Saturday with out a mishap, I was in bed at 10.30, Sunday at the game Buzz, and a few more wore a size 16 hat and felt terrible and there I was as fresh as a young robin, no fooling it was practicably a pleasure. We have a very sick horse at the farm, he has sleeping sickness. the Vet told us today that he had a very slim chance of recovering, it was our best ridding horse, we sure hate to think of losing him.

Now I want you to write me about you, I hope you had a very nice week end, I enjoyed the part of it or the few hours of it that you were here and although we did very little, I hope you had a little fun.

If I am not prying into your personal affairs to much,you might let me know whether or not you are supposed to have any more dates.

As I have very little space left on this sheet I will have to let up, however Dorothy, I am looking forward with a great deal of enthusiasm for a letter from you, so snap it up.

As ever
“Ding”

Thursday, September 30, 1937

Dear Dorothy:

I have very little personal correspondence, however I hope you note how prompt I handle this one.

For some reason which I don’t suppose would be hard to figure out, I have been a total loss to myself and business too, chin is’nt very high, hope you are’nt the same and hope I snap out of it.

I sure had a nice time with you at the silver slipper and our extensive window shopping was fun too, have you ever noticed how much more economical it is to shop when the stores are closed, if they would close pop corn stands a guy just would’nt have any fun.

It has been very warm here today, that and my sullen nature has made me about as popular as a crutch, I hope it cools off.

We are having a committee meeting tonight which will last a short time and from there I intend to go home and go to bed, friday I will see East High play for a change as West is away this week, this will be the first game this year I have attended without you, you never were to much of an enthusiast over these games, but very nice of you to go and I thought very nice to take. I will see this one alone.

I sure write a rotten letter don’t I? but I’ll bet I can improve some time.

Well Dorothy, I am getting to the bottom of the page again and you know what that means. By the way business was so good today I had to come back after dinner to write this as I want to be sure you get it friday.

I am expecting a letter from you, of course I could’nt expect one this week, could I,? but I want to hear early next week from you, i hope.

As ever
“Ding”