October 2010 – red paper boat

October 31, 2010January 8, 2016 Shelly

I’ve been working on putting together a mini-website for the letters I got from my aunt. I’m conflicted about them. On the one hand, they’re an amazing little time capsule from World War II, but on the other, there’s a lot of racist language in them that I’m not comfortable with perpetuating. I think, though, that the letters’ historical value outweighs the racism (and other -isms I’m sure I’ll encounter as I work on transcribing them).

I also have trouble with the glorification of killing and the military industrial complex, so it’s difficult for me to warm up to “characters” who inhabit that world. I believe deeply in the importance of pacifism; war is never the answer. And so, the whole project is problematic for me for a whole lot of reasons. That doesn’t mean I don’t think it’s worthwhile, though.

War Letters

At this point, my plan is to just transcribe the letters. I don’t think I’ll scan them and put the images online, though I do want to include any items contained in the envelopes (photos, newspaper clippings, etc.).

Cemeteries, Photography

Angel

October 30, 2010January 8, 2016 Shelly

Evergreen Cemetery, Mantorville, Dodge County, Minnesota

Cemeteries, Photography

Outhouse

October 30, 2010January 8, 2016 Shelly

Evergreen Cemetery, Mantorville, Dodge County, Minnesota

I’m always amused when I see an outhouse in a cemetery, so when I do, I have to photograph it. This one had a row of headstones lined up in front of it, like an audience.

Photography

3 1/2

October 29, 2010January 8, 2016 Shelly

Once upon a time, we lived in an old farmhouse in Rushville. We just rented the house. The farm itself was run by an old guy named Henry. Henry had a grey horse that I found absolutely irresistible. I remember getting up in the mornings, dressing myself, and running outside to stand on the fence, so that I could pet the horse and feed him an apple or carrot.

Photography, WWII Letters

Old Letters

October 28, 2010January 8, 2016 Shelly

My aunt gave me a big box of letters. They were written by a Marine during WWII to his girlfriend (later wife). I spent this evening putting them in order, so that I can start reading, scanning, and transcribing them. These are from the earliest group, written in 1942.

Cemeteries, Ladybusiness, Photography

Wife

October 27, 2010January 8, 2016 Shelly

Wife of V. C. Durant Jan. 25, 1873 — July 9, 1901
Cedar City Cemetery, Austin, Mower County, Minnesota

Would it have been that difficult to give the poor woman a name on her headstone, instead of just listing her job description? (The top of the stone is engraved with “Watkins,” which is presumably her maiden name.)

ETA: AHA! A little more digging turns up that her name was Elda. She’s in the 1900 census, living with her husband (Claud V. Durant) and his parents at 811 South Warren Street, Mason City, Iowa. And her maiden name is Watkins. She shows up again in the 1880 census, living in Austin, Minnesota, with her parents, Abram and Phebe Watkins and siblings, Frank Watkins (11 years old), Jennie Watkins (9 years old), Laura Watkins (5 years old), and Annie Watkins (1 year old).

There was at least one other sibling, brother Leonard A. Watkins, who was born just after the 1880 census. Another daughter, Margie Watkins (11 years old), is listed in the 1895 Minnesota State Census.

Our Darling Leonard A. Son of Abram & Phebi Watkins, born Oct. 13, 1880 died Aug. 3, 1881