Jaci Dawn

I just started sorting through the envelopes of 1916, and I am discovering letters are ALL mixed up. There are letters from 1911 in side of 1916 envelopes. I’ have had to sort though each envelope and attempt to create a better time line for Dale. Therefore, we are going back to the Summer of 1915, prior to Dale’s arrival at the University of Oregon in Eugene. It’s a small step backward, and then I will be back on track with the timeline of his letters (and the assorted other letters stuffed into wrong envelopes!).

Grantsburg, Wis. July 2, 1915

Dear Folks,

      I got as far as St. Paul, and found out that I couldn’t get here until the next day, so I stayed all night there and came out here yesterday. I found Park here, but Harry had gone to the cities, and perhaps he has been at our place before you read this.

      Park and I have finished painting the building, which is the house and paint factory, and we went fishing this afternoon but didn’t catch anything. There is no work going on up here. Although as soon as the boys get their lighting contrast there will be a dam to build here. But now there is not even farm work to do.

The boys seem to have a pretty good layout here, but it will need a little time to get to working. They have a good paint that comes to about $1.10 per gallon when it is ready to apply. It seems to stay on buildings well. There is a barn in Grantsburg that was painted thirty years ago with it, and the brush marks can be seen in it yet. All the material used by them so fay, beside oil, has been taken out of a hole of about 10 cu. ft. Park and I painted this house with it, and he has a few gallons to deliver in Grantsburg tomorrow. The boys have an automobile, but they dont want Grandma told about it because she might worry about auto accidents.

   I have felt all right since I left St. Paul except for a little sneezing now and then.

   I hope you folks are getting along all right. I wish I could be there working instead of loafing up here, but I am afraid that I would only be in the way around there.

I am sending you some wintergreen. The woods is are full of it up here. I am I am pressing a pink ladys slipper, and will send it if I can get it in any shape.

    Tell John that they have tame red squirrels here. They will climb up anyone’s leg and take a piece of bread out of his hand. <insert above – July 3 – I have a little asthma this morning but not very bad.> There is a chipmunk that Uncle Park is working on, but he hasn’t got entirely into the little fellow’s confidence yet.

    Well you folks must writ, and tell me all about everything. I don’t like to stay here doing nothing, but getting my board and I am afraid to go anywhere else. Write as soon as you get this, and if I have any other mail send it along too.

Yours

Dale Melrose