Mrs. J. C. Bitterman 1717 Chadbourne Avenue Madison, Wisconsin Jan. 2, 1927 Dear Circle: May this be the beginning of the most satisfying and worthwhile year of your lives! We are hoping to hear that Myrta is gaining her health and strength again after all those ordeals. How little we know what lies before us, and what a blessing it is that we do not! We all have the problem of "How to live on 24 hours a day" and that keeps us busy. We spent a very quiet holiday season this year. We had our first Christmas dinner alone this year. We had a ten lb. turkey & trimmings etc. and went to see a play in the PM and managed to read a book aloud that day & Sun. following. Then we had our New Years dinner alone, too. But we were happy, having each other and being able to enjoy good health. We went to another play in the PM and had fine music on the radio when at home. We are hearing Louise Homer & her daughter from W.E.A.F. this eve. very nicely. Henry was here to dinner today & Cal got out his old violin & Henry played his repertoire(?) while I accompanied him. Now I think I'll keep the violin down stairs for I played "I Cannot Sing the Old Songs" on it for Cal by note & he recognized it before I got half thro'! Many Happy Returns to those whose birthdays come in Jan. I may go up to see the new Gov. sworn in tomorrow if I get thro' washing in time. My roomers come back tomorrow. Best wishes & love to you all, from Annie - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. Jan. 26, 1927 Dear Circle: I forgot I had this letter so I will get busy. We are so pleased with the good news from Myrta, and hope the Dr's may do as well for Jessie while she is there. Has Little Lorraine had the serum treatment for whooping cough? That seems to be a great help. [Lorraine Pickford b.5-1-25 d.2-6-29. Daughter of Hugh, son of Arthur] It will be a boon to the race when all those epidemics are all under control as they seem to be destined to be. Rena wrote that there was one family that had smallpox near them. We went to hear St. Olaf's Choir from Northfield Lutheran College, Northfield, Minn. last week. There were 60 young men & women in it, and they sang without any accompaniment but it was BEAUTIFUL. It was a scared concert and lasted two hours, & they had no music at all. Cal has been attending the road school that is in session this week. The Chief Highway Engineer was deposed from office yesterday without warning. Still they claim that the Highway Dept. isn't in politics in Wisconsin. Our new Gov. has swept a good many men out of office this month. Cal was asked to go out in a bus to watch a big snow remover work, some ten miles out of town, this PM but it was so cold that he did not care to go, 14 degrees below this morning. I shall be glad when warmer weather comes, for this cold weather goes right thro' me, even with old fashioned woolen underwear, etc. Hoping all are in their usual health, Im as ever, Your affectionate sister Annie - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. March 1st, 1927 Dear Circle: I kept this letter just long enough so that Amelia wouldn't feel called upon to write more than an average of one letter a month for the "Robin". She has missed Feb. 1927. We are glad to know that Myrta is well enough to be at the helm again at home. Her case is one of the modern miracles. We are hoping to hear as good a report from Jessie. Mamie Forbes wrote us that Milt had gone to Rochester to be treated, but haven't heard what they found yet. He has been ailing for two years. There are half a dozen good hospitals here but still people people go to Rochester to be treated there. Henry and his descendants will be able to keep the Pickford name in the public eye for some time to come. Little Tommy looks like a bouncing boy [Thomas Ingram Pickford, b. May 26, 1926, son of Roswell, son of Henry]. I will enclose the picture we got of Noel yesterday. Grace was having a siege of the "flu" when she wrote. The Layman's League of the Unit. Church are to conduct the services on Mar. 13, and the pastor will sit in a pew. This is something new for this church. I wonder if Theo has finished her rug that I marked the pattern from. I finished mine last week and like it very well. I made the ground work of grey with a purple border. Now I am anxious to begin another, but I cant hook them without a frame as some women here do. I am thinking of taking the car out again some day soon now the ice is gone. Much love to you all. Annie Elizabeth - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. March 25, 1927 Dear Circle:- It is raining outside and the forcast is for more tomorrow, but we can't complain for the months of Feb. and most of March were just fine. Cal announced this eve that we would have enough coal to last thro' April. We only bought 10 tons of Pocahontas last fall. We have liked it very well. We were glad to find the picture of Paul's pretty little wife in the Robin this flight. Hope to know her personally some day. [Paul Pickford - Madelle Miller] Salesmanship seems to be contagious in Arthur's family. I'm sure I should starve if I had to sell things for a living. Had a letter from Jennie Allen at Rochester last week saying Mamie Forbes had had to be taken there for treatment & there was grave doubts of her recovery. Milt had just been up there & had got home when Mamie broke down. It is her heart and not a goiter trouble. The Drs said if she lived thro' another 48 hours she might pull thro' and we have not heard further, so think she is improving. Myrta is back at her old tricks getting her house cleaned before the rest of us think of starting. I have just the kitchen cleaned so far. Amelia was up a few days last week end and she insisted on preparing our 37th wedding dinner, over at Henry's. She made it a joint affair for us and Henry & Ella as their 49th anniversary comes very soon and she wouldn't be up here then. And it was a VERY TOOTHSOME meal, with chicken, and ice cream & TARTS, 'neverything. Ella & Amelia & I had been to the matinee in the PM which was very good. So our 38th year began very pleasantly. We are very comfortably situated here but wish our children could be nearer to us. However we have much to be thankful for. Cal says the roads are impassable in some places, but still people will try to get thro'. He goes to Janesville on Sun. eve with the Mozart Club & takes a load of them in our car. Much love to you all from Annie. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. April 24, 1927 Dear Circle:- I'll try to write this letter before W.E.A.F. begins for I find it difficult to keep my thoughts on my letter when listening in to radio programs. Went to church & to Henry's to dinner & for the PM. It was too cold to be out much today and PICNICS are "passe". There are so many things going on the past week and this week we will have to take two on our program each day. Last week, the Maennenchor ( a mens singing society of 70 voices) celebrated its 75th anniversary and had the Mozart Club and the Carroll College Glee Club assist in giving a fine concert. They had an orchestra of 60 pieces to accompany them too. I was selected as president of the Alliance for another year and we have our regular meeting on Tues., then Wed. eve we have a card party. There are two or three luncheons of the dep'ts of the Woman's club and a Pub. Welfare Supper besides this week. I am thro' housecleaning, thank goodness! but have not made any garden yet. Our peonies are up about 18 in. Grace & Noel & baby Noel went to Yakima, Wash for a visit of two weeks & got home last Wed. They went on Homeseekers tickets, $60.00 for the round trip plus berths. Grace says she likes the west very much. This is Ruth's 32nd birthday and Alice's was yesterday, two yrs. old. Am making another hooked rug to use up some more of our old clothes and make them serve us a little longer. Am glad to hear Myrta is so well & that Jessie is improving. We are as well as usual. Much love to all. Annie - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. May 29, 1927 Dear Circle: It hasn't rained today! Sometimes of late it has rained for 24 hrs continually, but we still have a furnace fire. Cal says it can not be longer than tomorrow without more fuel. I read a prophesy of a summerless year (by a man who says he knows) in the paper last week. I don't see how there can be much fruit for it has been either cold or wet ever since the blossoms opened and the bees cannot work then. Our garden stands still or retrogrades for besides the cold and wet, a rabbit makes it his restaurant. We had a most awful ride home from Iowa the last time. If my hair had not been white already it would have turned that trip. However we did not have to be pulled out anywhere. The Essex has risen very much in our estimation since it dug its way out of those awful ruts, but much credit goes also to a certain J.C. Bitterman for rising quickly to meet any emergency. Its ONLY on FINE PAVED roads that he is NOT TO BE TRUSTED. I've had a two weeks siege of my old enemy, lumbago, but am getting back to normal again now. Noel has a position here in Mad. now as Plant Pathologist for the State & Grace and Noel J. will come as soon as she can sub-let their apt. Will enclose some snap shots of Alice & Noel taken lately. We are very pleased to have them back in Mad. again. We wish little Paul Jr. the best of luck, and are glad to hear that Hugh Jr. is doing so well. Will Wood & son & Flora & Lettie called thie P.M. Flora & L. expect to move back to Monroe after Wm. graduates in June. They would like to stay in Mad. but can't sell the old home. It has been standing empty for 4 years. Goodnight and love to you all. Annie. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. June 29, 1927 Dear Circle: I am trying out a new pen and I think I shall like it much better than the one I had before. That one made a blot every so often. Dale and family left for home this morning at 8 AM. Hope they got along all right. It has been such a hot day --90 degrees this PM at 4 PM. We have had our storm windows on the north porch until now but they came off tonight. We enjoyed the grand children so much and only wish we might see them oftener. Yesterday Dale & Cal went to Janesville, Wis. with a Chev. dealer here and drove new Chevs. home in the PM. Dale saw some of the best of Southern Wis. and enjoyed the trip & the opportunity of seeing the Chev. factory, where a new car is turned out every minute, 600 per day. Cal thinks they are a good little car. But pretty soon we'll be flying instead, I suppose. I think I shall stick to the Essex. Cal is now HOEING in the garden. Mark that! Our corn has apparently grown three inches today. The straw B. crop is rather short this year with us but we have had plenty to eat & I have made 3 pts of Jam and canned l pt. The radish crop was immense and the children came just in time to help us use them. I wonder how many of us will get to the reunion this year. Grace & Noel expected to go but they think now that Noel J. is coming down with the whooping cough. Grace is still in St. Paul. Dale says Will Kaven was in Nora S. for Old Settlers day. He is prosperous looking, married & has SIX children. Very warmly yours, Annie We were pleased to learn of Gerald's fine standings, and also to see all the pictures. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. July 27, 1927 Dear Circle: I will write my sheet tonight for tomorrow night we will have to be in bed early to get an early start for Camp Dixon on Friday. Grace & Noel James are with us now but Grace thinks it is too much of a trip for either Noel or herself, so will keep house for me while I am away and can string beans which are just at their best now. I have a summer school student, also. The school closes next week Friday. Had a good letter from Jessie Wilkinson today. She staid at the Park Hospital one week & is now at Mabel's. She can sit up but not walk alone. It has been about 900 today, with thunderstorms promised for tonight. I picked the last of the fruit today, a few currants. There are a few black berries that are not ripe yet. Never had so little fruit on this lot since the first year here. Grace has been house-hunting but has not found anything she likes at the price she wants to pay, so they have about decided to build, and that will take some time. Noel James is a chatterbox, on the go every moment. He is very observing and makes some quaint remarks. We were glad to see the pictures Chas. enclosed. Hope they & Ethel's will come to the reunion. Must close now. With love to you all. Annie - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. Sept. 4th, 1927 Dear Circle: I am staying "all soul" alone tonight. My husband left me this morning without a word as to alimony. Heartless! He is to spend two weeks at the farm, building & painting, but I had not rented my rooms yet so I felt I had to remain here to look after that. The neighbors on each side of us are off on their vacations, so it is decidedly quiet around here. Grace & Noel have been here today & will come again tomorrow, that being Grace's birthday, and we will celebrate together. Henry & Ella are in Fennimore for the two days. I read that editorial first when I got the letter & said "That fits Arthur" & sure enough it proved to be so. I enjoyed Roger's letter. He seems to have transplanted from Iowa to N.Y. City easily. A few years of time makes a vast difference in the lives of our various family relatives. I often think if Ellen could only have lived to enjoy the easy times her family are having now. We are expecting Ruth & Dick & Alice on Sept 17 for their vacation. Haven't seen them for almost a year & a half. They will drive thro. That 380 mile drive to Cedar Rapids last Sun. was our biggest days drive, so far, but the Essex is easy riding & we were not very tired after all. But SO DUSTY! This leaves us in our usual health & as busy as usual. Glad to hear Ethel is better. Much love to you all. Annie. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. Sept. 28, 1927 Dear Circle: I wonder how far this three day rain has extended. It never stopped for 48 hours from Sun. noon to Tues. noon. Since then there have been short intervals without a downpour. We managed to have our opening luncheon of the ALliance yesterday in spite of the rain and I have been to a Woman's Aid meeting today. Our minister returned from his summer vacation in England last week and church services began last Sunday. Amelia, Rudolph & Edith & children came up on Sun. Ruth & Dick were here and were very glad to be able to see them, as we all were. It used to seem quite a trip to Fennimore but since the roads are hard surfaced and the cars closed one can go in about 2 1/2 hours in any weather but snowstorms. [75 mi. ie 30 mph] Ruth and Dick & Alice have gone to Sturgeon Bay for a few days this week. They have some very good friends up there. Will be back in Madison for ten days again before they return to Geneva. Alice is a good little traveller and plays around in the back of the Essex coach on the trip till sleepy, then has a nap on the the seat. We had all our children at home a week ago Sunday. Dale came home with Cal and spent the time from 2:30 PM till ten o'clock PM when he went back on the train. But we had a good time while he staid. In thinking of Jessie, I think of those lines from Meredith, "Our dear ones go from touch and sight, Not -nor ever, - from the lasting vital of us." She was one of my life long friends. I have three roomers, two sophs, and a grad student from Johannesburg, S. Africa, who is an asst. in Botany and is working for her Dr's degree. She has the Eng. accent but dresses just as our girls here do & has bobbed hair. I find her very interesting. She told me last eve that she had come home on the "tram," meaning the street car. Have canned 4 pts of string beans today and there are many more that will grow if the frost holds off for a time. We have had them since July. The weather man is just announcing more showers for Thurs & Fri, over the Radio. Our cistern runs over merrily each day. I am about to invest in a new Automatic Electric Washing machine. Bedtime now. So Goodnight. Much love to you all, Annie - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. Oct. 27, 1927 Dear Circle: Last month I wrote of a three days rain, but this time it is of lovely shining days, one after another. Only 800 yesterday and today. Had to begin taking ice again. I object to using coal and ice at the same time. Cal kept the fire one day by burning a large volume of an old city directory and I see he has two more to use. I have been to a Community Union dinner today. The workers have been out four days and have now about half what they want, only $60,000 yet, but the rest will come more slowly. They did not get their quota last year and may not this yr. for there is much unemployment here, and that makes more calls on the charitable societies. Many from the French Battery Co. were laid off several months earlier than usual, which is hard luck. Cal and I went to the Wis-Mich ball game with Dick & Ruth. Arlyn came in to see us a few minutes before the game began. He & three friends drove down. I really enjoy a foot ball game over the radio broadcast by Quin Ryan more than watching a game as I don't understand what they are doing. My roomer from S. Africa is on the girls Hockey team here & she is going with the team to Minn. on Sat to play against their team. She says they are just as enthusiastic down in her country about football as they are here. Ameila's reading club will have an interesting meeting with their antiques, I think. Amelia Churchill has been in Madison but has gone back to Monroe to close her house & then she will go to stay over winter with Helen in Cleveland, Ohio. The pictures of the hearty young Smiths are very good. Am always glad to have pictures in the letter. Goodnight and love to you all from Annie. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. Nov. 23, 1927 Dear Circle: It is raining outside and is turning colder, so maybe there will be snow by tomorrow. Cal is at the church this eve. fixing the furnace & putting in more convenient lights, etc. for the janitor. He's always fixing some thing around home. It has become second nature to home, I guess. I'm in a state of relaxation today following our church sale yesterday, and have that as another thing to be thankful for tomorrow. Grace & Noel have asked us and Henry & Ella to dinner tomorrow. Ruth writes they are having two families they know in Geneva, to dinner on Thanksgiving Day. One of my girls here (the one from Johannesburg, S. Africa) left tonight with the graduate hockey team of the Univ. to go to Chicago to play the Chicago Univ. team tomorrow AM and in the PM they play the Evanston team, then next Sat. they play the last game of the season. They have won every time this season so far. She is enjoying her life in the U.S. and says she wishes it were possible to have the rest of her family here. She talks just like Alice Holden. I like her very much. The foundation is in for Grace's new house. They will begin framing it now. It is to be a six room Colonial with a two stall garage. It is about a mile from us, but in a very pleasant part of the suburbs. I have just heard Calvin Coolidge deliver his Thanksgiving proclamation on the Radio, and have been having a program all evening from K.D.K.A. so nice & clear. It is surely a wonderful invention. We were glad to see the pictures Arthur sent. They are so good. I think its remarkable that Arthur can drive all over the country safely with only one eye to watch for everything. I don't care to drive when it gets dark enough for lights to be used, myself. I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving. Love to you all. Annie - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. Dec. 27, 1927 Dear Brothers & Sister:- Henry sent the letter over Fri. eve but I had a Christmas dinner on hand and put off writing till today. From the time I wrote the last sheet for the "Robin" till Dec. 26th there was just one thing after another outside my own work to look after and when I contracted the "flu" along with these other things, I found I'd lost four precious lbs and all my "pep" but I got ready for Xmas little by little and had a very pleasant day with Noel's family & Miss Young with us. My guests washed the dishes while I rested so that made things easier. I have promised myself a FULL WEEK of lying around till the New Year & the students come again. I wonder if any of you have seen "Dad's Puzzle"? and if any of you have solved it, we want to know how you did it. We went over to Grace's for our Christmas Tree Sat. night, and were well remembered with gifts. I have just called up Theo, for Henry did not get home on Tues. as he had expected and she says Henry was taken sick with gall stones again up at Eau C. and was in bed up there. They will come home as soon as it is safe for him to travel. He is better today. Merle has been dangerously sick with flu, but is around again. Cal was in bed two days, but he recovered by keeping quiet, much sooner than I. Cal has been appointed Capt. of a bowling team from the Ass'n of Com. to play at a tournament in Feb. He has played just once at bowling, so he is persuading Noel to coach him on it & play on his team. He went down to Camp Randall yesterday & curled. Mr Ulve wants him to go into that but he has so many other things going that I guess he will not take up the curling, tho' he says its a lot of fun. We received a cunning picture of Paul Jr. today. He sits up as big as anyone at 5 1/5 months. We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and will have 365 days of health & happiness in the New Year. Much love from Annie