admin on June 22nd, 2010

This is the first of two parts, focusing on Mt. Desert Island.
June 26, 1964
Mr. Harold Lufkin, V.P.
Newton Mfg. Co.
Newton, Iowa.
Dear Mr. Lufkin:
It always arouses memories when I get a letter from dear old Bar Harbor. I am sorry you got stuck on the “Bar”, but the Sea has a tendency to teach “all landlubbers [...]

Continue reading about Pop’s Letters – June 26, 1964

admin on June 17th, 2010

This is the second part of the letter posted last week about Pop and the Roaring Twenties in New York City.
WAS I green! I recall one night that Pat and I were walking along Broadway, and a chap stepped up and passed me a card. I have a very poor memory but to this day [...]

Continue reading about Pop’s Letters – April 22, 1964 – p2

admin on June 8th, 2010

Pop’s first impressions of New York City during the Roaring Twenties.  This is part one of a long letter.
April 22, 1964
Mr. Harold Lufkin, V.P.
Newton Mfg. Co.
Newton, Iowa.
Dear Mr. Lufkin:
Well, Mama has gone down to Winsted to attend a shower for one of our lovely daughter in laws and so I am left alone to “baby [...]

Continue reading about Pop’s Letters – April 22, 1964

admin on May 31st, 2010

Here is part two from last week’s letters, mainly recounting life as a sailor.
In the meantime of course there is constant “gibing” by the Tin Can sailors of us Battleship Sailors. We were of course to them “gedunk” sailors. In other words, war or no war we had our own Barber shops, laundry, tailor shops [...]

Continue reading about Pop’s Letters – August 17, 1963 – p2

admin on May 25th, 2010

This long letter will be split into two parts.  The first describes two hazardous jobs at sea.  Remember those cartoons where someone’s foot gets caught in a chain as the anchor drops?  Well, that turns out to be no laughing matter in real life.
August 17, 1963
Mr. Harold Lufkin, V.P.
Newton Mfg. Co.
Newton, Iowa.
Dear Mr. Lufkin:
What a [...]

Continue reading about Pop’s Letters – August 17, 1963

admin on May 11th, 2010

Pop seems to have a self-deprecating yet comfortable attitude towards his class status.  That reminds me, I’m probably retitling this web site “Restoring Balance” sometime in the near future, moving away from an emphasis on class.  A new edition of Systems out of Balance will do the same.  For now, here’s Pop.
July 2, 1963
Mr. Harold [...]

Continue reading about Pop’s Letters – July 2, 1963

Pop writes about the icebox of Connecticut and his distaste for FDR.
St. Patrick’s Day
In the “mornin”
[1963]
Mr. Harold Lufkin, V.P.
Newton Mfg. Co.
Newton, Iowa.
Dear Mr. Lufkin:
Thanks for your nice letter and before I forget I will send you Pete’s address, it’s—Mr. Pete Sinclair, 719 Grand, Laramie, Wyoming. Don’t know where he got all his brains. From [...]

Continue reading about Pop’s Letters – St. Patrick’s Day – 1963

admin on April 27th, 2010

This is one of a few letters that is incomplete.  It still is informative about battleships and yachts.  In regards to me being sick, I recall being absent from school for typically about 30 days out of the year in elementary school.  That lessened in high school, while my year between high school and college [...]

Continue reading about Pop’s Letters – Washington’s Birthday, 1963

admin on April 20th, 2010

This letter relates Pop’s beginning as a salesman during the Depression.
Mr. Harold Lufkin, V.P.                                     Nov 10, 1962
Newton Mfg. Co.
Newton, Iowa.
Dear Mr. Lufkin:
<The beginning relates to Newton business matters>
I was very sorry to read in our local papers that you lost a valued citizen of Newton in Fred Maytag. Did you know that the first selling [...]

Continue reading about Pop’s Letters – November 10, 1962

admin on April 13th, 2010

Pop writes of the virtues of pluralism and self-reliance.
Norfolk, Conn.
August 16, 1962
Dear Beth:
Thanks for your nice letter and the nice things you said in it.
I guess the best way if I ever decide to write is for you to take some occasional letters that I write and put them together. Believe me you have my [...]

Continue reading about Pop’s Letters – August 16, 1962